Bionic Bay is a stunning platformer that wants to test you
Dark, haunting and seriously unsettling, the atmosphere of Bionic Bay grabbed me instantly. Free of narration and, to begin with, any words at all, this intriguing platformer throws you straight into the action, within minutes giving you elastic super powers that allow you to jump and dash across large distances — something that’s going to come in very handy indeed.
Bionic Bay starts off fairly easily, teaching you the basics without ever overwhelming you. You’ll learn that you can combine dashes and jumps to travel longer distances, and you’ll need to put that to the test. There’ll be a few obstacles to avoid, too, but it isn’t until you get a few levels in that Bionic Bay truly shows you it means business. This is a platformer that doesn’t go easy on you.
Once you’ve got used to your newfound elasticity, you’ll be granted a new power: the ability to swap with certain boxes and objects in the environment. Touch a particular box, move to another area of the screen, then press L1 to switch positions. It’s an unusual power but one that you’ll need to use time and time again to get through Bionic Bay’s tough-as-nails levels. Sometimes, it might simply be a case of moving a box out of the way so you can get past. Other times, you might need to create a stack that allows you to reach a high platform. Occasionally, you’ll need to use this power in a clever and innovative way — maybe you’ll need to throw yourself in the path of danger, switching just at the right moment.
If it sounds like trial and error might be a valid tactic when it comes to playing Bionic Bay, you’d be right. Thankfully, it’s a game that values your time and efforts, and if you die, you’ll quickly respawn only seconds away from where you died. You rarely have to worry about getting through a tricky section again as, for the most part, checkpoints here are very generous. With no annoying ‘Game Over’ screens to get through, either, you’re always straight back into the action.
I’m roughly halfway through Bionic Bay, and I’m having a great time with it. Keep progressing, and new abilities await, such as the ability to shift gravity and freeze time. It’s fast-paced enough to keep you engaged, and thanks to the generous respawn system, you’re not going to get as frustrated each time you die.
But what’s going to keep you most invested in Bionic Bay is just how stunning it looks. The world you find yourself in is something of an enigma: a wasteland that mixes natural matter and machinery in fascinating and unsettling ways. Each level may be muted in terms of its colour palette, but it works to great effect, and there’ll be plenty of occasions you find yourself hitting the ‘screenshot’ button to capture a particularly striking scene.
If you like platforming, if you’re a fan of fast-paced action games that require precision and quick reflexes, you’re going to love Bionic Bay. Testing your platforming skills rather than putting you up against waves of enemies, this manages to feel unique while being very easy to get to grips with. If you’re up for the challenge, it’s well worth your time.
Bionic Bay is available from 17th April on PS5 and PC.
